The Handbook of Communication in Africa: Theory, Research, and Praxis
Oxford: Routledge (2026), 406 pp.
Series: ICA Handbook Series
ISBN 978-1-04-074317-1
"The anthology showcases how communication scholarship can converse with on-the-ground initiatives and activism on the African continent. Rather than attempting to provide one homogeneous picture of a diverse continent, the handbook highlights the need to embrace an African worldview, regional variations, diverse meta-theoretical perspectives, and contributions from different subfields in communication (e.g., organizational communication, mass communication, gender and communication, crisis communication, and health communication, among others). It addresses emerging and evolving issues in praxis such as digitalization and the role of technology, new forms of activism, and the Sustainable Development Goals." (Publisher description)
Editors’ Introduction: African Communication Studies: A Celebration and a Call for (Further) Action / Stacey L. Connaughton, Joelle M. Cruz, Peter F. Masibo Lumala, xxi
SECTION 1: METATHEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES
1 Africa at a Crossroads: Resisting Power and Unpacking Africa’s Problems and Possibilities through a Post-Positivist Approach / Omotayo O. Banjo, Yewande O. Addie, Olunifesi A. Suraj, and Dirichi Umunna, 3
2 Interpretive Perspectives on Communication in Africa / Rita Daniels, 21
3 Critiquing Colonialism in African Communication Studies / Jenna N. Hanchey, 32
4 Postcolonial and Subaltern Scholarship on Communication in the African Continent: Storytelling, Representation, and Resistance / Tiwaladeoluwa Adekunle, Angela Lasso-Jimenez, Catherine Lopez Barajas, Stacey L. Connaughton, 44
SECTION 2: RESEARCH AREAS
5 On Ethiopian Media Studies: Some Initial Musings on an Emerging Scholarly Current / Téwodros W. Workneh, 59
6 Media Veracity and Platform Authenticity: The Case of WhatsApp in Africa / Brian Pindayi, 72
7 Public Relations in the African Context: A Review of Current Scholarship / Meghana Rawat, Temiloluwa Oluwagbotemi Wright, Arunima Krishna, 87
8 Organizational Communication Research in Africa: An Analytical Review / Eric Karikari and Denise D. Duncan, 100
9 An Exploration of Health Communication in Africa: A Systematic Analytic Review / Robert Nyaga and Prince Adu Gyamfi, 113
10 Technology and Communication / L. Jessica Foumena Kempton and Jasmine R. Linabary, 134
11 Communication and Gender Inequality in Africa / Juliet Wambui Macharia, 147
12 Gender, Culture and Media Dynamics in Africa: A Critical Reflection / Peter F. Masibo Lumala, 164
13 Communicating Sport in Africa: A Nascent Field with Expanding Trajectory / Chuka Onwumechili, 181
14 Toward Epistemic Freedom in the Study of Communication in/about/and “the Environment” in Africa / Kundai Chirindo, 194
15 “The Past Still Present”: China-Africa Media Relations and the Transformations in Global Communication / Teke Ngomba, 206
16 AI-Driven Social Media Analysis in Africa: Trends, Misinformation, and Political Discourse / John Z. Arufandika, 220
SECTION 3: RESEARCH AND PRACTICE
17 Situating the Catalytic Role of Cellular Technology within the Paradigmatic Shifts of Social Transformation among the Disenfranchised in Sub-Saharan Africa / Geoffrey Kiplimo Korir and Justin C. Nabushawo, 233
18 Media Coverage and Activism Research and Practice in Africa / Osman Osman and j. Siguru Wahutu, 246
19 Communication Law Education in East Africa / Erneo Nyakundi Nyamboga and Levi Obonyo, 258
20 Reflections on Development Communication, Gender, and Health in Africa / Elinam Amevor and H. Leslie Steeves, 271
21 Peacebuilding and Communication in Africa / Ryan N. Funkhouser, Adeola Mobolaji, and Stacey L. Connaughton, 282
22 Communication Research and Human Rights in Africa: Perspectives, Practices and Prospects / Bala A. Musa, 299
23 Naked Protests in Africa: A Critical Reading and Theorizing of African Resistance / Millicent Elewosi, Evans A. Agyapong, and Stanley Karombo, 312
24 Indigenous Voices in the Digital Age: SMS Technologies for Environmental Justice Among Kenya’s Ogiek / Cynthia Klekar Cunningham, Lusike Mukhongo, Autumn Edwards, Chad Edwards, Habeeb Abdulrauf, Abdullah Mohaimen, and Winston Mano, 323
SECTION 1: METATHEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES
1 Africa at a Crossroads: Resisting Power and Unpacking Africa’s Problems and Possibilities through a Post-Positivist Approach / Omotayo O. Banjo, Yewande O. Addie, Olunifesi A. Suraj, and Dirichi Umunna, 3
2 Interpretive Perspectives on Communication in Africa / Rita Daniels, 21
3 Critiquing Colonialism in African Communication Studies / Jenna N. Hanchey, 32
4 Postcolonial and Subaltern Scholarship on Communication in the African Continent: Storytelling, Representation, and Resistance / Tiwaladeoluwa Adekunle, Angela Lasso-Jimenez, Catherine Lopez Barajas, Stacey L. Connaughton, 44
SECTION 2: RESEARCH AREAS
5 On Ethiopian Media Studies: Some Initial Musings on an Emerging Scholarly Current / Téwodros W. Workneh, 59
6 Media Veracity and Platform Authenticity: The Case of WhatsApp in Africa / Brian Pindayi, 72
7 Public Relations in the African Context: A Review of Current Scholarship / Meghana Rawat, Temiloluwa Oluwagbotemi Wright, Arunima Krishna, 87
8 Organizational Communication Research in Africa: An Analytical Review / Eric Karikari and Denise D. Duncan, 100
9 An Exploration of Health Communication in Africa: A Systematic Analytic Review / Robert Nyaga and Prince Adu Gyamfi, 113
10 Technology and Communication / L. Jessica Foumena Kempton and Jasmine R. Linabary, 134
11 Communication and Gender Inequality in Africa / Juliet Wambui Macharia, 147
12 Gender, Culture and Media Dynamics in Africa: A Critical Reflection / Peter F. Masibo Lumala, 164
13 Communicating Sport in Africa: A Nascent Field with Expanding Trajectory / Chuka Onwumechili, 181
14 Toward Epistemic Freedom in the Study of Communication in/about/and “the Environment” in Africa / Kundai Chirindo, 194
15 “The Past Still Present”: China-Africa Media Relations and the Transformations in Global Communication / Teke Ngomba, 206
16 AI-Driven Social Media Analysis in Africa: Trends, Misinformation, and Political Discourse / John Z. Arufandika, 220
SECTION 3: RESEARCH AND PRACTICE
17 Situating the Catalytic Role of Cellular Technology within the Paradigmatic Shifts of Social Transformation among the Disenfranchised in Sub-Saharan Africa / Geoffrey Kiplimo Korir and Justin C. Nabushawo, 233
18 Media Coverage and Activism Research and Practice in Africa / Osman Osman and j. Siguru Wahutu, 246
19 Communication Law Education in East Africa / Erneo Nyakundi Nyamboga and Levi Obonyo, 258
20 Reflections on Development Communication, Gender, and Health in Africa / Elinam Amevor and H. Leslie Steeves, 271
21 Peacebuilding and Communication in Africa / Ryan N. Funkhouser, Adeola Mobolaji, and Stacey L. Connaughton, 282
22 Communication Research and Human Rights in Africa: Perspectives, Practices and Prospects / Bala A. Musa, 299
23 Naked Protests in Africa: A Critical Reading and Theorizing of African Resistance / Millicent Elewosi, Evans A. Agyapong, and Stanley Karombo, 312
24 Indigenous Voices in the Digital Age: SMS Technologies for Environmental Justice Among Kenya’s Ogiek / Cynthia Klekar Cunningham, Lusike Mukhongo, Autumn Edwards, Chad Edwards, Habeeb Abdulrauf, Abdullah Mohaimen, and Winston Mano, 323
